SAN DIEGO – The customers have spoken: “Yes” to the defending champs, and “not unless I absolutely have to” to all those guys still trying to make an NFL roster.

Early Thursday afternoon, the Chargers sent out a release announcing that their first regular season home game, Sept. 14 against Seattle, was a sellout, at least for TV blackout purposes. (They’re still trying to peddle a “very limited number” of suites, but if it’s a choice between that and the HD screen in the living room, which would you choose?)

Thursday night, meanwhile, a modest crowd — 51,489 was announced, meaning several thousand ticket-holders stayed away — showed up to watch the Chargers’ hopefuls edge the Arizona Cardinals’ hopefuls in a battle of field goals, 12-9, just 11 nights before the varsity players for each team would take the field for real in Glendale, Ariz.

It probably speaks volumes, in fact, that two guys who are assured of jobs, Chargers kicker Nick Novak and the Cardinals’ Chandler Catanzaro, accounted for all the scoring.

The juxtaposition of back-to-back meetings was an accident of timing. The Chargers announced their exhibition schedule April 9 with Arizona at the back end. The NFL unveiled its regular season schedule exactly two weeks later, picking the Chargers and Cardinals to play the second half of a Monday Night Football doubleheader to conclude Week 1.

If it’s not unprecedented, it’s highly unusual.

“I know back when I was with New Orleans and we were up in the Cheese League (training in Wisconsin), we scrimmaged the Bears, we played ‘em in the preseason and then we played ‘em in the regular season later on,” defensive coordinator John Pagano said. “But it’s never been a situation like this, where you’re going into your last preseason game and then you open with the (same team).

“I’m excited about it. It gives us an opportunity to work on the same opponent.”

You know, lemons and lemonade and all that.

The reality is that Thursday night neither team showed much of anything. Aside from the kickers, punters and long snappers, no starters played. And the game plan? Two scoops of vanilla, please.

“Week 4 of the preseason usually is the definition of vanilla offense anyway,” San Diego offensive coordinator Frank Reich said. “You’re playing young guys who are getting a lot of reps and you want to give them every opportunity to succeed. So keep it simple, play fast, make it clean. Just let them get their job done.

“There’s always some element that you’re trying to conceal anyway, something that’s always in play. There’s always a gamesmanship angle. I mean, that’s one of the great things about this sport: the gamesmanship, all of those mind games, the strategy of what you show and what you don’t show. It’s always in play, every day, every game, no matter what level of importance the game has. So yes, it’s always a factor.

“But,” he said, “the reality is there’s also a lot of tape teams look at from last year to see how you do.”

While both sides kept it simple, the drama centered around individuals and their job prospects.

Kellen Clemens, expected to be Philip Rivers’ backup, completed 14 of 25 passes for 158 yards and an interception in his half. No. 3 quarterback Brad Sorensen, who played the second half, was 3 of 7 for 27 yards and spent most of his time handing the ball off.

The duel for one running back spot between Marion Grice and Branden Oliver may be too close to call; both played well. Receiver Javontee Herndon may have raised his stock with a 22-yard reception where he adjusted in midair against double coverage to grab a ball thrown behind him. Fellow receiver Tevin Reese, with a batch of drops and bad routes and a lost fumble, damaged his cause.

Cordarro Law, competing for a spot at outside linebacker, had a sack and forced fumble in the second quarter. Thomas Keiser, desperately trying to retain one of those outside linebacker spots, also forced a fumble. Safety Alden Darby helped his cause with a late-game interception.

Oh, and first-round draft choice Jason Verrett introduced himself to the home fans in his brief first-quarter stint, leveling Cardinals quarterback Logan Thomas with a big hit.

But this much is certain: Aside from those whose careers were impacted by Thursday night’s game, this one is going on the dustbin of history pretty quickly.

Join the Conversation

We invite you to use our commenting platform to engage in insightful conversations about issues in our community. Although we do not pre-screen comments, we reserve the right at all times to remove any information or materials that are unlawful, threatening, abusive, libelous, defamatory, obscene, vulgar, pornographic, profane, indecent or otherwise objectionable to us, and to disclose any information necessary to satisfy the law, regulation, or government request. We might permanently block any user who abuses these conditions.

If you see comments that you find offensive, please use the “Flag as Inappropriate” feature by hovering over the right side of the post, and pulling down on the arrow that appears. Or, contact our editors by emailing moderator@scng.com.